A winner and 2013 goals review

First things first, the winner of my blog-a-versary giveaway is...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations, Mrs. Duh! I sent you an email with more information. Thank you to all who entered and who continue to be fans of my blog. 

Even if you didn't get a chance to enter the giveaway (or chose not to) please take a moment and answer the poll on my sidebar. I would like to know more about what you would like to read on my blog. It is easy to get caught up in weekly features and other happenings and not pay attention to what you enjoy reading - so tell me! I personally plan to include more "tell-all" posts - that are open and from the heart. I don't want to turn this blog into purely an information delivery and house project blog (though I enjoy those too!) I want to utilize the journal aspect of the blog and, well, get more personal. Hopefully, I can implement that during the month of April.

Speaking of April, did it sneak right up on you too? I tell ya. I really thought we had a week or two of March left. Anyway, it is time to review my goals and how I did during the (much too speedy) month of March.

Expand Mind

1. Did I read at least 1 book? Not cover-to-cover. I started a book, but most "free time" has been spent on studying and taking AFTB courses to finish my instructor hours. (I start teaching in two weeks!)

2. Did I develop any skills? I started a spin class which I had never done before.

3. Did I teach/tutor at least 1 child? No tutoring.

Increase Wealth

1. Did I payoff any debt? We made more than minimum payments on all our debts, but no complete payoffs.

2. Did I increase ER savings? No. But we just set up an allotment to make sure this changes in April.

3. Did I increase additional savings? Yes. I increased it by about $20 this month.

Advance Career

1. Did I attend at least 1 event? I attended many events this month. I foresee this being the cornerstone of my business for most of the year and it is very exciting!

2. Did I write at least 1 article? No articles this month, but I started the process of a semi-long-term writing deal with the blog. Stay tuned for information as it becomes available.

3. Did I make steps toward finding a mentor? Yes. I made small step towards finding a mentor through the Rising Professionals group. I haven't finalized the details yet, but I am excited to have the experience!

Enhance Home

1. Did we make progress on the guest bath/bedroom? No new progress. We are keeping our eyes peeled for a guest bedroom set and then I will have the foundation to organize and decorate the room.

2. Did we make progress on clearing the Radon? Not so far. Still waiting for the weather to warm up and our budget to accommodate.

3. Did we make progress on the outdoor projects? Yes! This past weekend we tore out the rotting deck and rebuilt the joist and floor boards. We still need to seal and paint the deck, but here are a few snaps of the progress:

Improve Health

1. No smoking? Still smoke-free!!

2. Did I eat healthier? Until last week, yes. I made lunches from home and focused on veggies and low fat meals. Last week, however, we grabbed pizza and ate at restaurants a few times because we were so busy. Bad!!

3. Did I take a multi-vitamin? Not regularly. This one is so simple and yet so difficult. 

Three long, beautiful years! {Giveaway!}

I can hardly believe that three years ago, today, I started this lowly blog amidst my first year of law school and our first deployment just hoping I could find solace on these virtual pages.
And I did. 

A few highlights of the three years: 
I've written over 700 posts, had over 36,000 pageviews and 2200 comments!
My most viewed post: Organizing Heaven
Blogger URL with highest referrals: Ash and Matt (Thank you!!)
Top 3 commenters: JG, Michelle, and Jen (Double thank you!)
My favorite post (of this year): This one

This blog has been my light during the darkest days and my friend when I felt alone. It has helped me build a network of lifelong friends and brought me into the military family better than anything else I have known! It has connected me with people around the world and led me to business advancement. Mostly, though, these pages allowed me to be myself, explore my opinions, and develop myself each and every day. 

I am eternally grateful.

In celebration of THREE glorious years of blog-hood, I am hosting a giveaway!

A Julep gift set! Contains:
"Simone" polish (lavendar) & "Debra" polish (cement)
Rock Star hand creme
1 bonus manicure/pedicure item (hand-picked by me!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Enter using the Rafflecopter above. The giveaway ends at midnight March 31, 2013. The winner will be announced on April 1.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me. Thank you for reading, commenting, and being my friend. You are appreciated!

A Few Quick Things

I just wanted to stop in (amid a whirlwind catch-up after spending my Sunday hovered over my toilet with a serious stomach bug) and remind you a few big things going on in the blog-world.

Today is the day for first-round voting for Military Spouse of the Year! This is first time I've participated in voting (for no particular reason) and there are so many amazing ladies nominated. You can only vote once per email address and the voting is only open today - so take 5 minutes of your lunch break/kiddo's nap/down time and head over to check it out! 

My personal favorites: 

Lori Volkman, long time mil-spouse and MSJDN board member who is a fierce advocate for military spouse's wishing to pursue higher education and professional careers. Check out her FB profile.

Jacqueline Goodrich, wounded warrior spouse whose support for wounded warrior families is unsurpassable! She was a personal inspiration early in my blogging career, encouraging my to continue the path! Check out here FB profile here.

(My honorable mention, since I only have two email addresses with which to vote) Angela Caban, Founder of Homefront United Network and avid mil-spouse advocate and all-around sweet lady! Her FB profile is here.

Second, today is the only day for Jantastic Swagbucks opportunities. 

Check out my original post for details!

If you do not already follow me on Facebook, I have one especially good reason why you should - every couple of weeks I post a note with a list of giveaways I find around the web. Some I enter, some I don't - but all of them are great opportunities for you to find new blogs to read and win free stuff!

Finally, stay tuned this week for a couple great posts: a review of NEOChalk Chalk Pens; a peek at my new coffee bar; and another look at my 2013 goals.

Happy Tuesday-that-feels-like-a-Monday to y'all!

Chambanachik's Christmas Giveaway: "A Cozy Christmas Night" Prize Pack

Have you been keeping up with all the amazing giveaways going on over at Chambanachik? Seriously. There are so many amazing prizes even I am totally overwhelmed (in a great way!) 

Well, today is my day! That's right, head over to Erika's blog and enter to win the "A Cozy Christmas Night" giveaway pack sponsored by yours truly. I'm not even going to tease you with a photo of just how cool this prize is - instead, go see for yourself. 

While you're there, leave some love for Erika!

Chambanachik's Christmas Giveaway Kickoff!

Today is a great day. You might be asking yourself why. Well, I'll tell  you!

Today marks the beginning of twenty-three days worth of Christmas giveaways - hosted by the lovely Erika at Chambanachik! There are 23 different prizes sponsored by 23 different people who own Etsy shops, or run businesses, or just have amazing talent for crafts! Oh, and one of those days is sponsored by me! 

Do you want to know how excellent these prizes are? Well, last year, I won a prize. 
This adorable hand-made clutch and earrings from Ines:

Seriously, the caliber of these prizes is second to none!

The real reason I wanted to make a special post about this, however, is to thank Erika.  I know how much time, tears, and resources she spent to compile this series of wonderful giveaways. She worked extremely hard (all why continuously thanking me and the other sponsors - 'cause she's that selfless!) 

Thank you, Erika, for your generosity of heart and enduring spirit! Your friends and readers truly appreciate it! The rest of you need to head over, like her blog, and stay tuned for some amazing giveaways!

Winner!

Here is the winner of the Holiday Party Prize Pack giveaway: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations, Nikki! Check your email for more information!

Thank you to everyone who entered!

Holiday Party Prize Pack: A Giveaway!

As we near the first of the winter holidays (and I surpassed 200 likes on my Facebook blog page!) I wanted to treat my fabulous readers to a little holiday cheer.

Here's what you can win: 

A set of metallic hair bows

The perfect shade of Christmas-green polish
Peppermint Twist Bodycology Lotion
Glitzy earrings & a red sparkly clutch

This prize pack is perfect for a holiday party or mix the items with others for all-winter wear! 
Perfect for yourself or to give as a gift. Or break it up for stocking stuffers!
The contest runs until Black Friday (11/23) at midnight. I will announce the winner on Saturday! 
Simply follow the Rafflecopter to enter. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winner!

This giveaway was immensely successful. I had the most entries I've ever had, and many new followers/lurkers/etc... came out from behind the scenes to say "hi!" So exciting!

That is always my ultimate goal with these giveaways - not to increase the numbers and get more followers - but to build more relationships and make friends. 

I want to thank each and every one of you for making this such a success!

{And Army Wife 101 for giving me a special shout-out this week!}

On to the winner: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

None other than my beautiful mother! 

The funny thing is that she has tried to enter almost every giveaway I've hosted and has the worst time accessing the Rafflecopter from her various computers. I walked her through the entry this time and, as luck would have it (and the random raffle selector), she won!

Congrats, mutti! I will email you confirmation soon!

It's Almost Fall: A Giveaway

Doesn't everyone love fall? It is, most definitely, my favorite time of year. I can rattle off a list of all the things I love about this season, with Pumpkin Spice Lattes from Starbucks close to the top. And the fact that nights are crisp enough to sleep with the windows open and tangle up with my husband and a warm blanket to keep warm! One of my other favorite things about the summer-to-autumn transition is pulling all my boots out of storage and dreaming up new ways of layering my favorite scarves and cardigans.

I also really enjoy the colors that come out during fall. Not just the natural reds, oranges, yellows of the leaves turning, but also the jewel tones of makeup and clothing, and the bronzed tones of just about everything else. 

Last week, I hinted that I was thinking about a fall-themed giveaway simply to show that I am welcoming the season with open arms and offering it a hot cup of tea and a seat in front of my fireplace! Well, many of you agreed, as evident from the --- likes on my Facebook page.

So, here it is: the "It's Almost Fall" Giveaway!

What you win: 

1. Dark Kiss Liplicious Lip Gloss via Bath & Body Works
{A great fall flavor and tint!}
2. Travel Size Chip Skip
{I keep one of these in my purse in case I get a chip in my polish or a nail tear. It seals it until you can get home and fix it.}
3. Wet n' Wild "Burgundy Frost" Nail Polish
{the perfect fall shade!}
5. Faux snakeskin mini-clutch via Ulta
{The perfect bag to slip inside your larger purse to carry a nail file, extra dental floss and other daily emergency items!}

Simply enter the Rafflecopter below to win. I made it super-easy so my lurkers and non-regulars would feel comfortable stopping by! (To that group, "hi! I love new friends and I promise I don't bite!") 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway ends on Wednesday, September 5th at 12:01am 

I will announce the winner on Thursday!

Good luck!

Show & Tell Monday: My Home Decorating Binder

Today, I am participating in Show & Tell Monday with From Mrs. to Momma. 

It's pretty standard: answer the questions, link up, and meet new people!

It just so happened that the questions this week focused around a topic that is very significant in my life right now - homebuying!

1. If you are searching for a home, tell me what is on your "MUST" list? 

As I previously announced, we are not only searching, but recently found a new home. On our list when we started looking was: 3 bedroom, 2 bath, good outdoor space, 2-car garage, room for us to do work and grow into it. We got all that and more!

2. Show me your favorite room in a home. (Your home or any home)

My favorite 

3. If you could have any room redone, which one and how would you like it done?

Call me crazy, but I don't mind a simple kitchen and low-maintenance bathrooms. As long as I have a massive closet and enough space to comfortably live, I'm not too picky. That's not to say that I don't have a decorating style, or that I don't want top revamp my entire home, but the only room that is vital to me is my office. I do some work from home, and plan on doing even more in future years, so I need a great, organized, inspiring, workspace. Something like this:

Source: google.com via Mel on Pinterest

Or this: 

Source: houzz.com via Mel on Pinterest

4. Tell me what your favorite stores are to shop for home decor?

My number one place to shop is garage sales, thrift shops, and auctions. I love finding older pieces and transforming them AND getting amazing deals. This doesn't work all the time and you definitely need to splurge and good kitchen stuff and other decor. For those items I like to shop at: Home Goods, BB&B, and Target. For a splurge, I'll stop at Pottery Barn, Pier 1, and Macy's.

5. Show me your dream home.

Last weekend, we did the Parade of Homes tour but most of them are over-the-top (seriously, even if I was a ka-jillion-aire, I wouldn't buy a 10,000 sq. ft. home!!). In fact, as much as a big, extravagant home is fun to think about, it's really not our "dream." I'm not sure I know what my dream home looks like, but I am excited to find out while we remodel the home we just purchased!

Since we're on the topic of the house, I wanted to share with you the inspiration/decorating binder that I put together last weekend. It's nothing special, but it's a great way to organize all the magazine photos, paint swatches, coupons and such that I've collected since this journey started. 

The white tabs represent the various rooms in the home and the colored tabs are for:

1. Color/Pattern Inspo.  2. Coupons/Giveaways/StoreAds  3. Decor Ideas  4. DIY Projects

I use white labels and black sharpie to make notes on the pages. Why it inspires me, how much it would cost to make, a particular piece of furniture or color that I loved...and so on! 

{Here's a secret: if you link up, you get a chance to win an Erin Condren planner!}

Giveaway Winner!

When I went to pick and announce the winner this morning, Rafflecopter was down for maintenance. I apologize for the delay in announcing the winner of my giveaway.


The prize, in case you forgot, was this little package: 

I originally thought I might switch out the polish for a couple other new colors I had, but I decided to keep the polish as is. Sinful Colors - "Savage", Nivea Mini Lotion, and a heart rhinestone keychain!


Now for the winner...
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Congratulations, Jaci!!!


I will email you shortly to get your address. Thank you to everyone who entered! Have a great weekend!

Well, hello! {A Giveaway}

I'm elated to be done with the bar exam.

I am happy that I gave myself the weekend to recover and didn't once think about school or studying. 

I am thrilled I was able to read a book this weekend. For fun. 

There are so many great things going on in my little corner of the world and I can't wait to update you on all the changes. My new job, blog-changes, and house-hunting will be the center of my life for the upcoming months and I can't wait to share those experiences with you!

Finally, I am glad to be back to blogging (and the rest of my real-life.) So much, in fact, that I am offering you a chance to win a little treat from me. 

Includes:
1 Nail Polish (color/brand may vary) 
Nivea Hand Lotion
Rhinestone Key Chain


Just follow the Rafflecopter below to enter! You have until Sunday, August 6. Winner will be announced first thing on Monday.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Christmas in July

While I am tucked away in a stuffy warehouse, slaving over the test of my lifetime, many of my friends around the interwebs are celebrating the unofficial holiday: Christmas in July! I can't really do anything big to celebrate the holiday, so I thought I'd share my favorite things about Winter/Christmas (and tuck some pictures of Christmas-past in there too!) 


Red Wine Sangria
Fireplaces
Snow

Cozying up with loved ones
Sledding/Skating/Snow-shoeing
Fancy Holiday Parties!

Giving gifts to others
Holiday Parades
 Cozy boots, scarves & hats!

When The Grinch, White Christmas, and Home Alone are on TV
And...finally...
Ringing in the New Year

I ran across this one while looking through my past holiday albums...Oh my!
Our first (unofficial) date. NYE 2008. Believe it or not, he still wanted to date me (and I, him!) 

Head over to Lovely Life of Leah for a link-up and wonderful giveaway!

Seriously. Do it now! For me...'cause I could really us some holiday spirit today!

Who's a Winner?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You're a winner!!

Congrats, A Girl! You've won my summer goodies giveaway!

I will email you shortly for your shipping address.

Thank you to all who entered and stay tuned for another great giveaway in a few weeks!

Summer Giveaway!

Last week, I hit 100 "likes" on my Facebook page! 

I wanted to celebrate this milestone and thank all my new followers, by hosting a giveaway. Also, since this is a big summer holiday week, I threw together a summer package for the prize. 

Here's what you can win: 

Small turquoise clutch

Travel sunscreen

Travel body wash

Revlon nail polish: Coastal Surf

Card holder & pen set

Just follow the Rafflecopter to enter! I will have the giveaway run through the 14th to accommodate all the folks who might not be around during the holiday week.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck and have a great 4th!

Winner!

Graduation weekend was great! I had an amazing time with all my family and friends and even though I was home for a short 48 hours, it felt good to be "home" for a bit. 

I got back late last night and stayed with my Aunt in the Denver area so I could start my bar prep class today. Al is in the field again this week, so I am just focusing on getting through this first week of class and switching my brain back on to study-mode. 

In the meantime, you're probably waiting to hear about who won the book

7 Money Rules for Life by Mary Hunt

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations, Noel! 

I will contact you by email for further details.

Have a happy Monday, y'all!

7 Money Rules for Life: A Giveaway

I am hosting another giveaway!

This time the prize is a book: 7 Money Rules for Life by Mary Hunt

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Full disclosure: I won this book from HUN, but after scanning through it, decided that it would probably serve others better than it does me. 

The contest will run until I return from my Minnesota graduation weekend on Monday!

Good Luck!

Winner, Winner!

Tomorrow, I am participating in Military Spouse Appreciation Day blog-hop. Then, I have a great post planned (finally) to show you all the great organization projects I did around the house this week. 

In the meantime, I am going to announce the winner of my Amazon.com gift card giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations, Lisa!

I will email you shortly to confirm your prize!

Loyal Readers: A Giveaway

As I transition into the next part of my life, I can't help but be introspective. So much has happened over the last three years and I am very tired but extremely happy. I owe much of my success through that time to blogging - having a place to come and share my thoughts, feelings, secrets; having an outlet for all of those emotions; and building a great support group of readers, fans and lifelong friends. 


Today, I want to say thank you!


Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for being on this journey with me. For navigating this crazy life, for better or worse, and for being brazen enough to put it all on the web. I appreciate your readership and your friendship and look forward to many more years together!


Speaking of the future, I have a lot of ideas rolling around regarding the future of this blog. I am considering purchasing a domain and revamping the entire look of the blog. I am also looking into ways to monetize, or at least allow for advertisements and other small money-making capabilities. None of this has made it past the research and development phase, but when it does, I am sure I will reach out for help. I expect to move forward late summer, if at all.


So, I've said my words, but now it's time to put my money where my mouth is. 
As promised, a giveaway!

WHICH GIVEAWAY PRIZE WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO WIN?

Last week, I asked you to participate in a survey to see what kind of prizes you would like to receive as a prize on my blog. An overwhelming number of you said an Amazon.com gift card. I can't blame you - I LOVE shopping on Amazon.com as well!

Winners!

Have you been on the edge of your seats waiting to hear who won the Courage Cakes giveaway?

Well, I am going to get right to it and announce all three winners, selected at random using the Rafflecopter.


You should all be contacted personally by CourageCakes and they will let you know how to claim your prize!
If you did not win, I really encourage you to go check out their +One program and buy a great cake for someone you love: deployed, a spouse in need of a pick me up or just a family member you're missing! When you purchase a cake, they donate another one!

a Rafflecopter giveaway